1988 in the Philippines

Decades:	1960s; 1970s; 1980s; 1990s; 2000s;
See also:	List of years in the Philippines; films; ; ; ;

1988 in the Philippines details events of note that happened in the Philippines in the year 1988.

Incumbents

President: Corazon Aquino (PDP-Laban)
Vice President: Salvador Laurel (Nacionalista)
Chief Justice:
- Claudio Teehankee (until April 18)
- Pedro Yap (April 18 – July 1)
- Marcelo Fernan (starting July 1)
Philippine Congress: 8th Congress of the Philippines
Senate President: Jovito Salonga (Liberal)
House Speaker: Ramon V. Mitra, Jr. (LDP, 2nd District Palawan)

Events

January

January 18 – First local elections under the Aquino administration are held. Administration candidates win a majority of the local seats.^[1]
January 28 – Toymaker company Mattel Incorporated announces the closure of its Philippine subsidiary, with 3,000 job losses.^[1]

February

February 4 – Cardinal Sin announces the closure of the National Secretariat for Social Action for the claims of infiltration by communists.^[1]
February 27 – Thirteen members of the elite anti-insurgency Scout Rangers are killed in an ambush near Camalig, Albay.^[1]

March

March 9 – Amnesty International publishes a report on the cases of human rights violations by the Aquino administration committed by military and paramilitary groups; report is rejected by the government.^[1]
March 28 – A New People's Army (NPA) attack kill 7 of the bodyguards of Malabon mayor Prospero Oreta, who was wounded thereafter.^[1]^[2]
March 29 – Eight suspected communists are captured in military raids on their safehouses in Metro Manila—seven in San Juan, including three leading Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) officials, NPA commander Romulo Kintanar, general secretary Rafael Baylosis, and senior central committee member Benjamin de Vera; and Napoleon Manuel, "logistics officer" for the NPA, in Quezon City.^[1]^[3]^[4]

April

April 2 – Col. Gregorio Honasan, leader of the August 1987 coup attempt, together with 13 of his guards, escapes from a prison ship in Manila Bay. Eight navy guards who helped him to escape are captured in Manila, Apr. 15.^[1]^[5]^[6]
April 8 – Honasan's accomplice, Lt. Col. Edgardo Martillano, escape with his escort while on temporary release from jail.^[1]

May

May 4 – Josefa Edralin Marcos, mother of former Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, dies in Manila, aged 95. Her son's request to return to the Philippines for her funeral would be later denied twice.^[1]
May 11 – A military court convicts 106 soldiers and acquits one, all took part in the January 1987 coup attempt.^[1]^[7]

June

June 4 – Mine tunnels collapse on Mount Lablab, Sibutad, Zamboanga del Norte, killing at least 27 people.^[1]^[8]
June 10 – The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP, Republic Act No. 6657) is signed by Pres. Cojuangco–Aquino into law, providing land reform for farmers; to be effective within 20 years.^[9]^[10]
June 30 – Polytechnic University of the Philippines head Nemesio Prudente, survived in a gun attack in November 1987, is seriously wounded in a street ambush in Manila wherein three of his aides are killed.^[1]^[11]

July

July 25 – Pres. Aquino, in a state of the nation address, announces the formation of Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit, and orders the dissolution of vigilante groups.^[1]

September

September 16 – Political organization Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) formed
September 13 – Generics Act of 1988 (Republic Act No. 6675) was signed by President Aquino in order to require and ensure the production of an adequate supply, distribution, use and acceptance of drugs and medicines identified by their generic name.^[12]

October

October 18 – The Interior Bases Agreement between the Philippines and U.S was signed.^[13]
October 22 – Former Pres. Ferdinand Marcos and his wife are charged in the United States regarding illegal money transfer.^[14]
October 23–24 – Typhoon Unsang struck into Luzon resulted in a widespread flooding and landslides. The storm and flood brought scores of fatalities.^[15]
October 24 – Interisland ferry MV Doña Marilyn sinks off Leyte during a typhoon, killing 389.^[16]

November

November 7 – The Tower of Power transmitter was inaugurated by President Aquino and GMA Network board of directors following the transmitter's opening and a musical special.

December

December 13 – A military court acquits former Col. Rolando Abadilla, Manila's security chief under the administration of Pres. Marcos and then Ilocos Norte vice-governor, of charges of plotting coup attempts against President Aquino.^[7]

Date unknown

May – Abante established as a second post-revolution tabloid newspaper.

Holidays

As per Executive Order No. 292, chapter 7 section 26, the following are regular holidays and special days, approved on July 25, 1987.^[17] Note that in the list, holidays in bold are "regular holidays," and those in italics are "nationwide special days".

January 1 – New Year's Day
March 31 – Maundy Thursday
April 1 – Good Friday
April 9 – Araw ng Kagitingan (Bataan and Corregidor Day)
May 1 – Labor Day
June 12 – Independence Day
August 28 – National Heroes Day
November 1 – All Saints Day
November 30 – Bonifacio Day
December 25 – Christmas Day
December 30 – Rizal Day
December 31 – Last Day of the Year

In addition, several other places observe local holidays, such as the foundation of their town. These are also "special days."

Television

Sports

September 17–October 2 – The Philippines participates in the 1988 Summer Olympics held in Seoul, South Korea and ranked 61st. Only boxer Leopoldo Serantes received his bronze medal and placed third in boxing.
October 7 – The Ateneo Blue Eagles wins the UAAP Season 51 men's basketball tournament against the De La Salle Green Archers at Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.

Births

January 6 – Mikael Daez, actor, basketball player and TV commercial, print and ramp model
January 8 – Gretchen Espina, singer
January 16 – Alex Gonzaga, TV host, actress
January 21 – Glaiza de Castro, singer and actress
February 4 – Calvin Abueva, basketball player
February 8 – Mark Luz, actor and model
February 14 – Javier Patiño, football player
February 27 – Iain Ramsay, football player
February 29 – Milan Melindo, Filipino boxer
March 2:
- Roland Müller, football player
- Nadine Samonte, actress
March 3 – Patricia Tumulak, beauty queen, and host
March 6 – Isabelle Daza, actress and model
March 8 - Bryan Termulo, Filipino singer
March 9 – Alodia Gosiengfiao, actress, singer, TV presenter, model and cosplayer
March 15 – Jolo Revilla, actor and politician
April 2 – Ellen Adarna, actress and model
April 6 – Melai Cantiveros, actress, comedian and TV host
April 14 – Francis Mossman, actor and model
April 21 – JR Buensuceso, basketball player
April 22 – Chad Kinis, comedian
April 24 – Jinri Park, actress, model and radio DJ
April 25 – Dasuri Choi, dancer and entertainer
April 26 – Hazel Ann Mendoza, actress
April 27 – Mark Bringas, basketball player
May 9 – RK Bagatsing, actor and model
May 12 – Marky Cielo, actor and dancer (d. 2008)
May 13 - Paulo Avelino, actor and model
May 19 – Greg Slaughter, men's basketball player
May 20 – Carla Humphries, actress and model
May 23 – Vaness del Moral, actress
May 27 – Yam Concepcion, film and television actress
June 9 – Martin Steuble, football player
June 11 – Gabriel Valenciano, actor and dancer
June 15 – Kevin Santos, actor
July 7 – Venus Raj, Miss Universe 2010, 4th runner–up
July 17 – Jason Pagara, boxer
July 19 – Simon Atkins, basketball player
July 22 – Renz Ongkiko, news anchor model and journalist
July 25 – Sarah Geronimo, singer, actress and TV host
August 11 – Rabeh Al-Hussaini, basketball player
August 17 – Lizlee Ann Gata-Pantone, volleyball player
August 24 – Helga Krapf, actress
August 26 – Niña Jose, actress
August 29 – Iwa Moto, actress
September 6 – Jed Montero, actress
September 7 – Robby Celiz, basketball player
September 9 – JM de Guzman, actor, singer and model
September 10 – Maico Buncio, motorcycle driver (d. 2011)
September 18 – Lester Alvarez, basketball player
September 30 – Simon Greatwich, football player
October 4 – Joseph Marco, actor
October 5 – Maja Salvador, actress
November 4 – Michelle Madrigal, actress
November 5 – Enchong Dee, actor, former De La Salle Green Archers swimmer and younger brother of AJ Dee
November 6 – Eric Cray, track and field athlete
November 10 – Pauleen Luna, TV host, actress and wife of Vic Sotto
November 15 – Jace Flores, actor and model
November 17 – Chris Exciminiano, basketball player
November 19 – J. C. Santos, actor
November 20:
- Ariella Arida, Miss Universe 2013, 3rd runner–up
- Edgar Allan Guzman, actor and model
November 28 – Daniel Matsunaga, actor and model
December 2 – Athena, singer and stage actress
December 4 – Yeng Constantino, singer
December 5 – Chris Ellis, basketball player
December 9 – Matthew Manotoc, athlete and politician
December 14
- Eda Nolan, actress
- Vanessa Hudgens, American entertainer of Filipino ancestry
December 25 – Heather Cooke, football player
December 28 – AJ Banal, boxer

Deaths

January 17 – Roy Padilla, Sr., Governor of Camarines Norte (b. 1926)
April 9 – Arturo Belleza Rotor, medical doctor, civil servant, musicianm and writer (b. 1907)
May 4 – Josefa Edralin Marcos, mother of former President Ferdinand Marcos (aged 95)^[1]
June 11 – Ernani Cuenco, composer, film scorer, musical director and music teacher (b. 1936)
July 27 – Antonio Tantay, Olympic basketball player (b. 1920)
August 21 – Teodoro de Villa Diaz, guitarist and composer (b. 1963)
August 27 – Mario Montenegro, actor (b. 1928)
September 12 – Mars Ravelo, graphic novelist (b. 1916)
September 13 – Julian Banzon, biochemist and a National Scientist of the Philippines (b. 1908)
September 27 – Teofilo Camomot, Roman Catholic archbishop of Cagayan de Oro (b. 1914)^[18]
September 30 – Chino Roces, founder and owner of Associated Broadcasting Corporation and the Manila Times (b. 1913)
October 31 – Gregorio F. Zaide, historian, author and politician (b. 1907)

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o Revolutionary Struggle in the Philippines Retrieved 04-19-2021.
^ –"Suspected communist gunmen ambushed the mayor of a Manila suburb" UPI. March 28, 1988. –"Mayor wounded, eight killed in Philippines" UPI. March 28, 1988.
–"Gunmen wound suburban mayor, kill seven bodyguards" AP. March 28, 1988.
–"Suspected communist rebels wound Aquino relative, kill 7 bodyguards" AP. March 29, 1988.
Retrieved 04-25-2021.
^ "The Philippines: Gringo Jumps Ship". Time. April 11, 1988. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
^ Richburg, Keith (March 30, 1988). "3 top communists captured in Manila". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
^ Reid, Robert H. (April 2, 1988). "Coup Leader Honasan Escapes From Navy Prison Ship". AP News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
^ "TIMELINE: Recent coups and attempted coups in the Philippines". Reuters. November 29, 2007. Archived from the original on May 10, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Former Manila intelligence chief acquitted in coup plot charge" AP. December 13, 1988. Retrieved 04-25-2021.
^ –"27 Miners Feared Dead In Tunnel Collapse" AP. June 4, 1988. –"Workers rescue miner, fear 27 others dead in Philippine tunnel collapse" AP. June 5, 1988.
Retrieved 04-25-2021.
^ #Journeyto30" by Epi Fabonan III, Philstar.com: (1988) "Bullets for rice" April 2, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
^ "Speech of President Corazon Aquino upon the bill signing of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP)". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
^ –"Four killed in guerrilla attacks" UPI. June 30, 1988. –"Gunmen attack leftist university president, kill three aides" AP. June 30, 1988.
–"University president wounded in ambush" AP. June 30, 1988.
Retrieved 04-25-2021.
^ "President Aquino Signs New Generic Drugs Law Stirs Controversy". Union of Catholic Asian News. September 13, 1988. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
^ Sciolino, Elaine (October 18, 1988). "U.S. and Philippines Sign Pact on Bases". The New York Times - Breaking News, US News, World News and Videos. Archived from the original on May 25, 2015. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
^ Marcus, Ruth (October 22, 1988). "U.S. Indicts Marcoses In $100 Million Plot". Washington Post. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
^ Richburg, Keith B. (October 26, 1988). "Hundreds Feared Dead In Typhoon In Philippines". Washington Post. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
^ "At Least 179 Survive Ferry Sinking In Typhoon". AP News. No. 27 October 1988. Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
^ "Executive Order No. 292 [BOOK I/Chapter 7-Regular Holidays and Nationwide Special Days]". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. July 25, 1987. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
^ "Archbishop Teofilo Camomot The Road to Sainthood". cebudailynews.inquirer.net. Retrieved April 16, 2017.

[phrevolt-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o Revolutionary Struggle in the Philippines Retrieved 04-19-2021.

[2] –"Suspected communist gunmen ambushed the mayor of a Manila suburb" UPI. March 28, 1988. –"Mayor wounded, eight killed in Philippines" UPI. March 28, 1988.
–"Gunmen wound suburban mayor, kill seven bodyguards" AP. March 28, 1988.
–"Suspected communist rebels wound Aquino relative, kill 7 bodyguards" AP. March 29, 1988.
Retrieved 04-25-2021.

[tm0411-3] "The Philippines: Gringo Jumps Ship". Time. April 11, 1988. Retrieved January 13, 2025.

[4] Richburg, Keith (March 30, 1988). "3 top communists captured in Manila". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 25, 2021.

[5] Reid, Robert H. (April 2, 1988). "Coup Leader Honasan Escapes From Navy Prison Ship". AP News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.

[6] "TIMELINE: Recent coups and attempted coups in the Philippines". Reuters. November 29, 2007. Archived from the original on May 10, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2021.

[:acquitRA-7] "Former Manila intelligence chief acquitted in coup plot charge" AP. December 13, 1988. Retrieved 04-25-2021.

[8] –"27 Miners Feared Dead In Tunnel Collapse" AP. June 4, 1988. –"Workers rescue miner, fear 27 others dead in Philippine tunnel collapse" AP. June 5, 1988.
Retrieved 04-25-2021.

[9] #Journeyto30" by Epi Fabonan III, Philstar.com: (1988) "Bullets for rice" April 2, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2018.

[10] "Speech of President Corazon Aquino upon the bill signing of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP)". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.

[11] –"Four killed in guerrilla attacks" UPI. June 30, 1988. –"Gunmen attack leftist university president, kill three aides" AP. June 30, 1988.
–"University president wounded in ambush" AP. June 30, 1988.
Retrieved 04-25-2021.

[12] "President Aquino Signs New Generic Drugs Law Stirs Controversy". Union of Catholic Asian News. September 13, 1988. Retrieved April 20, 2021.

[13] Sciolino, Elaine (October 18, 1988). "U.S. and Philippines Sign Pact on Bases". The New York Times - Breaking News, US News, World News and Videos. Archived from the original on May 25, 2015. Retrieved April 6, 2021.

[14] Marcus, Ruth (October 22, 1988). "U.S. Indicts Marcoses In $100 Million Plot". Washington Post. Retrieved April 20, 2021.

[15] Richburg, Keith B. (October 26, 1988). "Hundreds Feared Dead In Typhoon In Philippines". Washington Post. Retrieved April 20, 2021.

[16] "At Least 179 Survive Ferry Sinking In Typhoon". AP News. No. 27 October 1988. Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.

[17] "Executive Order No. 292 [BOOK I/Chapter 7-Regular Holidays and Nationwide Special Days]". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. July 25, 1987. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved February 22, 2022.

[18] "Archbishop Teofilo Camomot The Road to Sainthood". cebudailynews.inquirer.net. Retrieved April 16, 2017.

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